OCTOBER marked another strong month of growth for British Columbia’s tourism sector, with an increase in international visitors.
Statistics Canada reports a 6.1% increase in international overnight custom entries to the province over the same month last year, with 19,100 more visitors arriving in British Columbia. The total year-to-date international visitor arrivals are also up 3.2%, with B.C. welcoming 158,837 more visitors so far this year.
October typically represents about 5.7% of annual international overnight entries to the province. A spike in direct flights to the province, as well as B.C.’s global reputation as a beautiful destination, are contributing factors to the increase in visitors.
Notable increases for October (over October 2016) include:
- Brazil – up 69.5%
- South Korea – up 29.9%
- France – up 25.3%
- New Zealand – up 23.1%
- Southeast Asia – up 19.7%
- Germany – up 18.7%
- Switzerland – up 13.4%
- Australia – up 10.8%
- China – up 6%
- United States – up 7.4%
- Japan – up 2.4%
Notable increases for year-to-date visits include:
- Australia – up 21.7%
- Mexico – up 19.2%
- Brazil – up 15.6%
- Germany – up 15.1%
- Austria – up 8.7%
- China – up 6.2%
- Japan – up 4%
- France – up 3.2%
- Italy – up 3%
- New Zealand – up 2.8%
- United States – up 2.6%
- United Kingdom – up 1.3%
- Taiwan – up 1%
- Southeast Asia – up 0.8%
- South Korea – up 0.7%
